Been quite a long time since I've had any real interest in the game, been working 60+ hours a week for the last 6 years, and remodeling my own house during any free time I've had. Only got out to play in two charity events last year, played 3x the year before that, and 4x back in 2015. And I had to take two hydrocodone before each time, and put on Lidocaine pain patches, along with many beers to play without (much) pain. At 47yrs old now, I've been battling back issues for over 20 years, along with increasing arthritis pain in my back, hips, knees, elbows, and every joint in my body. Couldn't make a normal swing this year at all, had to keep my hips stationary, and swing 100% with my arms. Piling on the pounds hadn't helped at all, hit 337 pounds after Thanksgiving, also developed type 2 Diabetes. A1c level was 9.6 at that time, sugar readings were often over 220.
BUT.... had gastric bypass surgery on December 18th, have dropped 90 lbs so far. Under 250 for the first time since I was 24 years old. Back is still stiff, but the arthritis has subsided to probably 25% of what it was, I can actually bend over and touch the floor again. Been 3 years since I could do that without standing on one leg and swinging my other leg up. Best of all, my diabetes is effectively gone - off the meds for it, my A1c a month after surgery was already down to 6.1. Have taken a few sugar readings, haven't had one over 125, usually from 80-100.
AND.... I've decided I need some more ME time. Going to plan my work schedule around golf, not the other way around. Re-joining a Thursday night league that I played in for eleven years, tee-offs start at 4:30 - it'll force me to get done with work by 3:30, and give me an outlet to reduce some of the stress I've had over the last 8 years.
What'd I miss while I've been gone?